Directed by Ed Ragozzino  and written by Ed Hawkins and Ronald D. Olson, this is a pseudo-documentary, which, according to Wikipedia, is a movie that uses “documentary camera techniques but with fabricated sets, actors, or situations, and it may use digital effects to alter the filmed scene or even create a wholly synthetic scene.”

The North American Wildlife Research may not exist, but Chuck (George Lauris) from there is the narrator. He tells us all about the actual historical evidence of Bigfoot, including the Patterson–Gimlin film. His group is using computers to find the most likely place — in northern British Columbia — to see an undisturbed Bigfoot. If they can find it, they’ll get the money they need to do more research. 

The group that goes to find the Sasquatch has Chuck, along with Native American guide Techka Blackhawk (Joel Morello), explorer Josh Bigsby (Ken Kienzle), reporter Bob Vernon (Lou Salerni), anthropologist Dr. Paul Markham (William Emmons), animal handler Hank Parshall (Steve Boergadine) and even a cook, Barney Snipe (Jim Bradford). 

Following the feel of so many Bigfoot movies that came before and would come after, the group’s adventures are interspersed with other Bigfoot stories and tales are told around a campfire. Of course, we never see Bigfoot — well, stay tuned — but we do see rocks thrown and shadowy invasions into the camp, which, Aliens-style, are outfitted with motion trackers that, by the end, everyone thinks have been smashed by multiple Sasquatches. Once the crew leaves, there he or she is. There’s Bigfoot, in the shadows, all fuzzy. Congratulations, the movie is over.

The film was produced by Ronald Olson, a genuine Bigfoot researcher who founded the Eugene, Oregon-based North American Wildlife Research Company. Olson’s background gave the film a layer of authenticity that resonated with fans of the unexplained. I laughed as I wrote that, by the way. His father also owned American National Enterprises, a company well-versed in producing nature documentaries.

When this film played in theaters, there was merch! You could order a postcard featuring a picture of Bigfoot from the famous Patterson-Gimlin film, as well as a 7-inch record of the film’s soundtrack. It had the songs “High In The Mountains,” “Bigfoot Theme,” “Cougar Attack,” “The Pack Train,” and “Barney’s Theme.”

You can watch this on YouTube.